rein

American  

[rayn] / reɪn /

noun

• reins
  plural

1. Often a leather strap, fastened to each end of the bit of a bridle, by which the rider or driver controls a horse or other animal by pulling so as to exert pressure on the bit.

2. any of certain other straps or thongs forming part of a harness, as a checkrein.

3. any means of curbing, controlling, or directing; check; restraint.

4. reins, the controlling or directing power.

   the reins of government.

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verb (used with object)

• reins,
  present (3rd person singular)
• reined,
  past participle,  past
• reining
  present participle

1. to check or guide (a horse or other animal) by exerting pressure on a bridle bit by means of the reins.

2. to curb; restrain; control.

   Synonyms:

   limit, bridle, check

verb (used without object)

• reins,
  present (3rd person singular)
• reined,
  past participle,  past
• reining
  present participle

1. to obey the reins.

   a horse that reins well.

2. to rein a horse or other animal.

idioms

1. give rein to, to give complete freedom to; indulge freely: Also give free rein to, give full rein to.

   to give rein to one's imagination.

2. draw rein, to curtail one's speed or progress; halt.

   The rider saw the snake and drew rein sharply.

rein British  

/ reɪn /

noun

1. (often plural) one of a pair of long straps, usually connected together and made of leather, used to control a horse, running from the side of the bit or the headstall to the hand of the rider, driver, or trainer

2. a similar device used to control a very young child

3. any form or means of control

   to take up the reins of government

4. the direction in which a rider turns (in phrases such as on a left ( or right ) rein , change the rein )

5. something that restrains, controls, or guides

6. to allow considerable freedom; remove restraints

7. to control carefully; limit

   we have to keep a tight rein on expenditure

8. with the reins held loosely so that the horse is relatively unconstrained

9. to take up the reins so that the distance between hand and bit is lessened, in order that the horse may be more collected

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verb

1. (tr) to check, restrain, hold back, or halt with or as if with reins

2. to control or guide (a horse) with a rein or reins

   they reined left

rein More Idioms  

1. see draw in the reins; free hand (rein) tight rein on.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• reinless
  adjective
• unreined
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• reins
  plural

Participles

• reining
  present
• reined
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• rein
  simple
• reins
  simple
• have reined
  perfect
• has reined
  perfect
• am reining
  progressive
• are reining
  progressive
• is reining
  progressive
• have been reining
  perfect progressive
• has been reining
  perfect progressive

Past

• reined
  simple
• had reined
  perfect
• was reining
  progressive
• were reining
  progressive
• had been reining
  perfect progressive

Future

• will rein
  simple
• will have reined
  perfect
• will be reining
  progressive
• will have been reining
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of rein

1300–50; (noun) Middle English rene, reine, raine < Old French re ( s ) ne < Vulgar Latin *retina, noun derivative of Latin retinēre to hold back, retain; (v.) Middle English rainen, reinen, derivative of the noun

Explanation

Rein is both a noun and a verb for guiding and restraining. You can use the long strap, or rein, on a horse to control its speed and direction, and you can rein in your own tongue by closing your mouth. Rein rhymes with rain but the two words describe very different things. Rain comes down all over the place, uncontrolled, while a rein holds things in place or controls what comes out. As a noun, rein is often used as a plural word "reins" when talking about actual leather restraints used in horse riding, but a rein also is something non-physical like when you put a rein on spending by shopping less.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

rein reins reined reining

So have efforts in some places to rein in property taxes.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 8, 2026

The United States, China and the European Union are taking different paths to govern artificial intelligence, as calls grow worldwide to rein in its most powerful systems.

From Barron's ● Oct. 7, 2026

And regarding fame, he feared giving his ego too much rein.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 1, 2026

"We will legislate for an independent regulation to rein these cowboys in," she said, announcing legislation for an independent watchdog of property agents.

From BBC ● Sep. 29, 2026

Woolf tightened his left rein, cocking Seabiscuit’s head toward War Admiral to let him focus on his opponent.

From "Seabiscuit: An American Legend" by Laura Hillenbrand

Vaccarello's departure represents the biggest personnel change at a major Kering brand since former car company boss de Meo took the reins as chief executive of the debt-laden Paris-based company in September last year.

From Barron's ● Oct. 9, 2026

Lynch takes the reins at the toy maker as it tries to lean in to Hollywood ambitions and become an entertainment company.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 30, 2026

Raiola, the backup, would take the reins of Oregon’s offense in Moore’s place, leading the Ducks to the doorstep of the goal line.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 27, 2026

He had already handed over the reins as chief executive to hand-picked successor Greg Abel at the end of last year.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 18, 2026

“Girls, listen to me,” I pleaded, holding onto the reins and standing my ground.

From "Summer of the Mariposas" by Guadalupe García McCall

In an interview, Goodson said the city has reined in p-card food purchases.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 5, 2026

As so many staff left these labs and research centers after their projects were reined in or canceled, the upheaval is likely to linger, the scientists, many of them based in Boulder, warn.

From Barron's ● Jun. 1, 2026

The winter resort of Trojena in the mountains of the north west has also been reined in.

From BBC ● May 25, 2026

You reined in your spending, but many people have trouble making their rent and paying for food and transportation without exceeding their income.

From MarketWatch ● May 8, 2026

She reined up her horse and picked her way along step by careful step.

From "A Game of Thrones" by George R.R. Martin

Referencing a landmark 1995 court ruling that is credited with revolutionising the football transfer market in Europe, he said he hoped reining in non-compete clauses could prove the "Bosman ruling for the innovation sector".

From BBC ● Oct. 9, 2026

He also calls for reining in wasteful government spending while protecting essential social services like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2026

Big tech reining in its AI spending may be a tantalizing prospect for some.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 7, 2026

But it would only take one of the big players to signal they are reining in their capital spending to change that.

From Barron's ● Jun. 23, 2026

I tried reining them in, but they broke loose, night after night.

From "In the Time of the Butterflies" by Julia Alvarez

Related Words

• curb
• repress
• restrict
• suppress